Halo
Well-Known Member
Each year it seems there are more and more days when there is a strong wind warning in place. The wind also seems to be at the top end of the forecast range. Do others sense this and is there any hard data?
Is it getting windier
- Thread starter Halo
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MagicalArmchair
Well-Known Member
Interesting reading here: http://blogs.dnvgl.com/energy/uk-wi...record-despite-lower-than-average-wind-speeds
Since 1996, this would sort of indicate not in a meaningful way...
Since 1996, this would sort of indicate not in a meaningful way...
jdc
Well-Known Member
It depends to some extet what you mean by 'windier'.
If average wind speed over some meaningful time like a month then the answer is 'probably not but we don't really know': the Met Office say in their report http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wp-content/PDFs/UKCP09_Trends.pdf "The inhomogeneous nature of station data for wind speed, together with a relatively sparse (and changing) observational network, result in estimates of change and trends which are not robust..."
But if you look at incidence of really severe storms, then they are on the increase, but not (yet at least) at the levels experienced in the 1920s.
The one which interests me (and I suppose the OP as well) is however neither of these. It's "what is the maximum wind speed I may expect to see (sustained for some time like 30mins) over a particular time (say 72 hours) over a particular coastal region (like Falmouth to Scilly)"? Unfortunately I'm far from sure we can get this data: it would need sensors in open-water on a finer grid than we have, and would need measurements taken every couple of minutes. And then to see trends it would have to be mesured for decades!
If average wind speed over some meaningful time like a month then the answer is 'probably not but we don't really know': the Met Office say in their report http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wp-content/PDFs/UKCP09_Trends.pdf "The inhomogeneous nature of station data for wind speed, together with a relatively sparse (and changing) observational network, result in estimates of change and trends which are not robust..."
But if you look at incidence of really severe storms, then they are on the increase, but not (yet at least) at the levels experienced in the 1920s.
The one which interests me (and I suppose the OP as well) is however neither of these. It's "what is the maximum wind speed I may expect to see (sustained for some time like 30mins) over a particular time (say 72 hours) over a particular coastal region (like Falmouth to Scilly)"? Unfortunately I'm far from sure we can get this data: it would need sensors in open-water on a finer grid than we have, and would need measurements taken every couple of minutes. And then to see trends it would have to be mesured for decades!
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MagicalArmchair
Well-Known Member
Perhaps worth an email to the boffins at the MetOffice to see if they can provide a fuller answer? My late father, in his lifetime, I remember noted that it felt like the wind blew more and it was more volatile 'these days' (I think it was after a MYC autumn series race where we had a very entertaining 40 knots over the deck 
) ... a view through rose tinted glass or based in fact I wonder?
) ... a view through rose tinted glass or based in fact I wonder?ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
I think one of the things this year for us labouring classes is that the wind is blowing at the weekend, usually only on one of the two days... we've had one weekend so far when we've been able to do anything other than day sail. Looking forward to having the option of choosing to sail any of the 7 days from 29 Sept!
Flica
Well-Known Member
Probably. One of the effects of global warming, will be for greater climate extremes.
However I doubt most will notice it on a monthly basis.
However I doubt most will notice it on a monthly basis.
alteredoutlook
Well-Known Member
Perhaps.
But perhaps we are all getting whoosier?
But perhaps we are all getting whoosier?
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-Known Member
It must also be remembered that the season in which the high winds occur will influence the amount of damage done, as colder air, in wintertime, will be more dense than the warmer air of summertime. The colder, heavier air will exert more force, per knot of windspeed, than the that of a summer storm.
MikeBz
Well-Known Member
Maybe it's getting warnier not windier?
